Chemical Structure:

Na2CO3

Molecular Weight:

105.99

What Is Sodium Carbonate and What Does It Do?

Sodium carbonate is a food additive (E500) used as an acidity regulator, anticaking agent, raising agent and stabilizer. It is one of the components of kansui, a solution of alkaline salts used to give ramen noodles their characteristic flavor and texture. Sodium Carbonate is a base.

Picture One:

3D_vers_sc.gif
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2001/anderson/gifs/e500i.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.chm.bris.ac.u

Health:

Sodium Carbonate is only slightly toxic, but may be corrosive(tending to cause corrosion) to the gastro-intestinal tract where symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, and death. If you inhale the dust to often it may cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms from excessive inhalation of the dust may include coughing and difficulty breathing.

Foods:

Dried Vegetables
Clotted Cream
Dairy-Based Deserts
Processed Fruit

Picture Two:

200px-Sodium_carbonate.png

Citations:

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/s3242.htm
(Image Citation)
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=198
http://www.pacia.org.au/_uploaditems/docs/3.sodium_carbonate.pdf
By: Dejá Scarborough